The Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur in the Elderly

Choi, Chang Uk; Rah, Soo Kyoon; Kim, Yon Il; Jang, Jae Min

Abstract

The incidence of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur in the elederly patient was lower than young in korea because of low average span and causes of injuries. But recently, the incidence is progressively in creased due to prolongation of korean average life span and improvement of residental enviroment. The mortality and morbidity are higher in spite of various treatment methods because of associated diseases and the poor general conditions of patients. Total 102 cases of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur were treated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Soonchunhyang University Hospital during the period from January, 1978 to December, 1985. Among them, 67 cases(65.7%) were over 60 years in the age, and of which 55 cases(one case was bilateral) were followed from 8 months to 3 years and 4 months(Average 14.7 months). The results were as followes: l. Out of 54 patients, 33 patients were female and the mean age was 74 years. 2. The most common cause is the injury from slip down and the ratio between in-door injury to out-door injury was 1.7: l. 3. The 41 cases(74%) out of the 55 cases were operated within 2 weeks after the accident, 35 cases were treated by Richard compression hip screw, 11 cases were by intramedullary nailing, and 9 cases were by multiple pinning. The multiple pinning were usually tried to patients of poor general condition, which was needed to shorten the operation times. 4. The mean duration of multiple pinning operation time was 1 hour 12 minutes, intramedullary nailing operation time was 1 hour 47 minutes and Richard compression hip screw operation time was 2 hour 42 minutes. 5. Among 55 cases, 20 cases(36%) were complicated.